Streaming News

Spotify is preparing its own range of physical hardware products, according to company job postings discovered online. Spotify is intending to create "category defining" devices built to rival smart speakers including the Amazon Echo and Google Home.

Apple is close to acquiring music recognition service Shazam in a $400m deal. According to media reports, the purchase will be confirmed this week and will see Apple acquire a notable platform. Shazam is capable of identifying songs using a phone.

MIT has developed an AI capable of streaming video without making you wait for it to buffer. Buffering is one of the biggest hindrances publishers face when convincing viewers to watch their content. Visitors on slow connections will simply turn away.

Google is preparing to merge together its YouTube Red and Play Music streaming subscriptions into a single combined service. The company wants to offer potential customers "one offering" after hearing reports that the current system is too confusing.

Streaming service SoundCloud has cut about 40 percent of its staff, in a move that will allow the company to better compete with its larger music streaming rivals, Spotify and Apple Music, Bloomberg reports.

The BBC has announced a new £34 million investment in digital content as it plans to fend off competition from Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. The broadcaster is focusing on children, claiming UK youth are influenced by American tech giants.

Spotify has announced a new integration with Facebook Messenger that lets you and your friends create music playlists with the bot. Designed for use on social occasions like parties, it lets anyone add to the playlist to create the perfect soundtrack.

Spotify has passed the 140 million active users mark but is still a long way from being profitable. While revenue increased, investment in new projects has caused operating losses to rise at a similar rate. It is still aiming to reach profitability.

Users of the online game streaming platform Twitch are making real trades on the stock market using one man's $50,000. The initiative is called Stock Stream and employs Twitch's interactive gaming features to let "players" decide on the trades to make.

PBS KIDS has unveiled the first HDMI TV streaming stick aimed specifically at children. Moulded in the shape of a racing car and featuring bright green colours, the device comes preloaded with digital games, videos and sing-along songs for young children.

Spotify is planning to launch a hardware device that will change the way in which "the world" experiences music. The company's ambitious aims are said to be early in development. It's an unexpected expansion of Spotify's business, moving beyond apps.

Amazon is set to spend a gargantuan ~$4.5 billion on video in 2017, according to analysts at J.P. Morgan, a figure that would put the internet giant much closer to rival Netflix than many industry observers thought.

Chicago -
Chicago police confirmed a 15-year-old girl whose alleged gang rape was streamed on Facebook Live is now in a “safe space.” The girl’s mother said since the incident her daughter and the family have been harassed and threatened at home and online.

Google has announced an update to its online Gmail client that adds a small but potentially very useful feature. It's now possible to stream video attachments from the web, removing the need to download large files.

Pandora, one of the first online music providers, has announced its own on-demand subscription service to rival Spotify and Apple Music. Using technology it acquired from Rdio, the internet radio provider aims to "change the way" you consume music.

Amazon-owned Twitch has replaced its homepage with a Twitter clone for the gaming community. Adding a centralised hub for the popular livestreaming service, it lets you share updates, screenshots and stream highlights directly to followers.

Five traders have been arrested for allegedly modifying Kodi streaming boxes that let you watch subscription TV channels for free. The set-top boxes were sold online for profit before the operation was closed down by copyright theft enforcement agents.

Apple is preparing for a major push into original video content, according to a new report from The Wall Street Journal — a move that could set it on a collision course with the likes of Netflix and Amazon.

Netflix now allows you to download your favourite shows for offline viewing when the Internet isn't available. The feature has long been requested by users who want to watch Netflix while on the go. A large portion of Netflix's library is available.

Google has announced a substantial overhaul of its Google Play Music streaming service. The company has rebuilt the app with a brighter, upbeat design and new features powered by machine learning. 'Personalised music' is now the core focus.

Tulsa -
A sergeant with the Tulsa Police Department told the local CBS affiliate he wished more criminals would record their illegal activities. It makes them easier to catch and provides additional evidence to use in convicting them.